הראל ויזל זוכה לכבוד בינלאומי: זה הפרס היוקרתי שיקבל

Harel Wiesel, CEO and controlling shareholder of the Fox Group, will receive the prestigious Kenneth J. Bialkin Leadership Award. The award will be presented at the annual 'Partners for Democracy Awards Gala 2026' hosted by the League for Friendship of America-Israel (AIFL). The event is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, 2026, in Manhattan, New York, and will be attended by approximately 150 prominent business figures, investors, philanthropists, and leaders from both countries.

The Leadership Award is named after the late attorney Kenneth Bialkin, a former president of the AIFL who significantly contributed to opening the American market for Israeli companies. The award recognizes groundbreaking leaders who have made exceptional contributions to strengthening business, commercial, and economic ties between Israel and the United States.

This year, Wiesel will share the honor with international businessmen George M. Logothetis and Robert H. Buck. The 'Partners for Democracy' award will be presented to Julie Menin, Chairwoman of the New York City Council. Wiesel's recognition marks another milestone in his impressive business career, which began with humble beginnings selling t-shirts from his car trunk.

His major breakthrough came in 1992 when he co-founded the FOX brand with his brothers Asi and Yiftach, and partner Avraham Fox. Over the years, Wiesel led innovative marketing campaigns, took FOX public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2002, and developed successful in-house brands like Fox Kids, Fox Baby, and Fox Home, in addition to acquiring the Laline skincare chain.

The primary reason for awarding Wiesel the prize is his transformation into a powerful international franchisee, bringing major American brands to Israel. Fox Group holds exclusive franchises for leading fashion retailers such as American Eagle, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People. A significant international collaboration is with Nike, for which Fox operates large stores in Israel, Canada, and Europe, alongside managing Foot Locker stores and bringing the Shake Shack burger chain to Israel.

With his dominant position in Israeli malls, the successful IPO of the online fashion platform Terminal X valued at over a billion shekels, Wiesel has solidified his status as the 'King of Retail' in Israel and a leading figure in the business arena. Past recipients of this honor include former U.S. presidents, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and business figures Shari Arison, Dana Azrieli, and Ido Segal.